Chapter 210

Chapter 210: Chapter 210

The flower-shaped sun of Huayuan seemed to dim slightly when unfamiliar figures stepped out of portals onto a small piece of land on the vast lake. Lotus leaves surrounded them, and in the distance, the island of Lotus Garden could be seen.

Two Shadow Demons stood side by side, dressed in black. It made them stand out against the vibrant backdrop of Huayuan, but neither cared about that as their mission had no need for stealth.

It was an unusual mission for Shadow Assassins, to be sent to retrieve a living person unharmed.

If it weren’t for the standing of the contractor and the fact that their target was of little threat, they wouldn’t have taken it, much less agreed to team up.

Shadow Assassins best worked alone, however, the uniqueness of their mission made a partnership more beneficial. It would be much easier to subdue their target without causing them harm with two.

"What do you think of the chances that our target would obediently come with us?" One of the Demons spoke, his ash-gray hair was shaved on one side while he grew the rest out.

"Nonexistent with our involvement." The other said blandly, his silver hair was short. Tendrils of his light-colored hair fell free of his short ponytail, framing his hard face

Large, powerful wings sprouted from the back of the first Demon who had spoken, his hair occasionally sweeping over one eye. "Must be nice to be so pampered," He muttered, jumping into the sky.

His companion ignored his words but mimicked his actions, they needed to fly over the lake into Lotus Garden.

"I wouldn’t mind having a Holy Demon generously hand me more wealth than I know what to do with."

The Shadow Assassin with the short silver hair just flew for the large island ahead, pretending not to hear the other Demon’s affected speech.

"Na’im! Wait up!" His partner called from behind, hurrying over to catch up.

-+-

Lady Lihua was alerted as soon as the Shadow Demons were spotted in the skies. Usually, she waited for obnoxious slavemasters to be brought to her, but this time, she hurried out.

She met them on the outskirts of the island, Qingyi a short distance behind her.

Lihua’s willowy beauty was enchanting, it wasn’t often she left her manor, her pale skin glistening. "To what do I owe this visit?" She calmly called up to them.

The Shadow Demons landed in front of her with a thud, neither bothering to draw their weapons.

Information was another expertise of Shadow Demons, so they already knew who she was as soon as she stepped up.

The Shadow Assassin referred to as Na’im took a step forward. "Nothing grave." He spoke in short, clipped tones. "We’re merely here to collect something."

Lihua’s lotus mark and dark pink eyes were steady, but her hands folded in her wide sleeves trembled slightly. She already knew who would dare to send Shadow Assassins to Huayuan, and who could easily afford to send two.

"And what is that?" She feigned ignorance.

"Lord Myron sent us to retrieve an Incubus," Eliad, the second Shadow Demon joined in. "I believe you know him well, my lady."

Lihua’s serene expression didn’t change, "And if I can’t provide him?"

Na’im’s dark eyes were empty, "You will."

His response was simple, but it carried the weight of the threat that currently hung over Lotus Garden.

Lihua knew that the assassins were aware that she had contacted her son. They wouldn’t have come to Huayuan if they weren’t certain they would find Ruoxi.

"Perhaps if Lord Myron knew how to be a gentleman, he wouldn’t have lost the Incubus you speak of." Lihua had little hope of distracting the Shadow Demons, but she could only try.

If she managed to convince them to leave, then she could keep both the island and her child safe.

"Why doesn’t Lord Myron come down himself to personally convince him to return?" She asked, her voice lilting.

"We will be gone quicker if you provide him, Lady Lihua." Na’im said coldly, completely focused on his task.

"You’re welcome to search the island," Lihua gestured with a hand, her fingers slender. She was taller than the Shadow Demons, her beauty unsettling. "I don’t have him. I can’t provide what I don’t have."

Na’im moved then, he warped over to Qingyi who had been quietly fuming from a distance all this while. Before Lihua could intercept, Qingyi had already lost the strength in her limbs, the Shadow Assassin the only thing keeping her upright.

A hair-thin needle was embedded in the side of her neck, one that Na’im pulled out when he got to her. He would lose his head if he dared use Shadow Demon poison on the target, but every other Cubi Demon was fair game.

"Qingyi," Lihua called out as she hurried over, worry breaking through her calm mask.

There were silent rules in the Hells, rules that were unanimously held up by every Demon race without question. Violence against the Cubi was unsightly, the delicate race was treated as such.

If it were any other race of Demon, a massacre would be in order, but instead, they were forced to resort to threats.

The deadly poison of Shadow Demons had a cure, and although Na’im had no intention of killing even a single Cubi, he kept that to himself.

"Rest assured, my lady," Elaid walked over as well, "As soon as you bring out Lord Ruoxi, the antidote will be administered.

Lihua pulled Qingyi away from the Shadow Demon and into her arms, her expression tense. She was unwilling. Unwilling to send her child back to the prison he couldn’t endure.

Na’im allowed the poisoned Succubus to be taken from her, she was already having difficulty breathing, thin black veins sprouting on her pallid skin.

Lihua’s eyes hardened as she gathered Qingyi close, the child’s heavy eyes were stubborn, and if she could speak, she would be protesting.

"Get Ruoxi!" She created a portal and shoved Qingyi into it.

The Shadow Assassins weren’t given a chance to react because they suddenly found that they couldn’t move, the scent of lotuses growing heavy around them.

Sweat beaded on Lihua’s brow, her mark glowing fiercely, but she doggedly held on. She would fight this one time, because if Ruoxi were taken away again, he would lose his freedom forever.

-+-

The pleasantness of the weather of the day before didn’t continue on, by mid-morning, storm clouds had already begun to roll in. They were thick and dismal, plunging the day into an early twilight.

In contrast to the scene outside, the leisure room was warm and bright. There was a tray of steaming tea, with dollops of milk poured into it. It filled the room with a sweet floral scent with a hint of cinnamon.

Ruoxi was lounging on an armchair, wearing robes despite the worsening storm outside. Kath’tan and Caedos weren’t much better, and Dulce had long given up on them,

The only Demon decently dressed was Asael, the Demon held a book to pass the time, but the aimless conversation that flowed in the room had his attention more often than not.

It was to this pleasant scene that Qingyi stumbled out of a portal. She was sent directly to Ruoxi’s side, so she fell right against him.

Ruoxi’s pupils shrank as he caught her frigid body, "Qingyi?" He looked her over, holding her properly in his arms.

"Shadow Demon poison," Asael straightened up, a frown on his handsome face.

He easily procured an antidote, one that Ruoxi hastily poured down Qinyi’s mouth, giving her the entire bottle of silver liquid.

Asael gave him a blank look, "She was only mildly poisoned, not enough to kill her." Yet the Incubus had fed her the entire potion bottle of his blood.

Qingyi recovered in record time, the feeling in her limbs returning before her voice did. She latched onto Ruoxi’s lapels, her eyes brimming with tears as she tried to mouth words.

She didn’t have to say it out loud for Ruoxi to understand, "...said to get you..." The end of her sentence was said out loud, her voice weak.

Ruoxi was already on his feet, "I’ll return." He said shortly, speaking to Dulce.

Before anyone else could say a word, the Incubus carved out a portal and vanished out of sight.

Dulce rose from the table he had been seated on with Caedos and Kath’tan, his delicate features marred with a frown. "Do you think a Shadow Assassin was sent to Huayuan?"

"Who would do that?" Kath’tan grimaced, the mere thought of it unsettling.

Letting a Shadow Assassin loose on an island was essentially damning every single Cubi Demon to death.

"Perhaps it’s not to kill." Asael said thoughtfully.

Kath’tan scoffed, "Then what else?"

"Shadow Demons have a wide range of proficiencies," Asael found himself defending, irked by the Fiend’s words. "It is more likely that they were sent to retrieve someone."

Dulce only got more worried as they spoke, he hadn’t forgotten that Ruoxi was kept captive by a Holy Demon. "We should go as well," He urged, "Can you create a portal to Huayuan?"

Caedos had never been to the plane of the Cubi, so it would be a little tricky for him, but he rose to his feet anyway. As long as he could go along with Dulce, then he would let the Vampire go wherever he wanted.